Rast & Gasses REvolver 32Long

[Dale Taylor]

I have a Rast & Gasser revolver vintage WW1. Does anyone remember the Am. Rifleman article for this revolver. I have been shooting 32 S&W long cartridges. Any advice?? THANKS [email protected]

 

[Jim K]

The .32 S&W Long is a bit small, both case and bullet, for the Rast-Gasser, but I have fired a lot of them in the gun. I think Fiocchi made the right ammo for a while, but I don't believe they do any more.

It is a neat gun, and the answer for guys who just have to play with the innards of a revolver. When the Japanese designed their Type 26 revolver, they combined the Rast-Gasser disassembly system with the S&W top break loading. I am not sure the combination was a great idea, but it worked.

I don't remember the AR article, but there is something in Firearms of the World. The best information, as you would expect, is in "Geschichte und Technik der europaischen Militarrevolver", but that work is uncommon here and in German to boot.

Jim

 

[BluesBear]

The .32 S&W Long uses a .312" bullet while the 8mm Rast-Gasser used a .320" bullet. The smaller S&W lead bullets usually "upset" enough to get semi-decent accuracy in the Rast-gasser.

The .32 S&W long case is a little short for the chamber and better performance can be attained by shortening .32 H&R Magnum brass to 1.037" and using a correctly sized lead bullet.

I'd recommend 2.0 grins of Bullseye as a starting load.

The Rast Gasser was a very well made firearm but remember this was a turn of the century gun, so keep loads reasonable.

BEWARE that .32 H&R Magnum ammo MIGHT fit the cylinder. If so it would be very unwise to attempt to fire such ammo in a Rast Gasser revolver!

 

[Jim K]

Hi, BluesBear,

The .32 H&R Magnum will fit the Rast-Gasser. I don't recommend firing it, as I never recommend firing any ammunition in a gun not made for it.

Still, the .32 H&R Magnum is much overrated and tested velocities run around 100 fps below published figures. Its pressure levels are actually below the range of many of the old European revolver cartridges. H&R lengthened the case to keep it from being used in the old iron break-tops, in which it definitely would be dangerous.

Jim